Adjustable light fixture hanger



Feb. 7, 1956 H. w. KINANDER 2,733,888

ADJUSTABLE LIGHT FIXTURE HANGER Filed May 11. 1953 7 1722441 J E j 1 w Jim 1 F I 25 9 Z2 z, 29

Un t d t ws a en ADJUSTABLE LIGHT FIXTURE HANGER Harold W. Kinander, Itasca, Ill.

Application May 11, 1953, Serial No. 354,288 I 2 Claims. or. 248-343) This invention relates to hangers by which lighting fixtures may be suspended from a ceiling and more particularly to the type of hanger adapted to support elongated lighting fixtures such as fluoroescent lights.

' An elongated lighting fixture of this character, in order to light "most effectively the space in which it is located, must be positioned with the longitudinal axis of the fluorescent tube extending in a predetermined direction. In some instances it may become necessary after installation to change the position of the fixture so as to dispose the tube axis in an angular relation to its original position.

A primary object of my present invention is to provide a hanger of the character indicated which will enable the fixture to be adjusted to a desired angular position during installation and to be subsequently readily readjusted to reposition the fixture should occasion require, all Without disconnecting the fixture from the outlet box or disconnecting or loosening any screws, bolts or other fastening devices. 7

Another object is to provide a hanger which will remain in adjusted position in service and will not be displaced or jarred out of position by building vibrations or other disturbances to which fixtures, particularly in factories and similar commercial buildings are subject.

A further purpose of this invention is to provide a hanger consisting of a minimum number of parts which can be economically produced and easily and quickly assembled.

In addition, a hanger embodying my invention is strong and durable, although light in weight, and can be fabricated with a few simple stamping operations at a very moderate cost.

To facilitate an understanding of my invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated on the accompanying drawings to which reference is made in the following specification.

On the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hanger embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking toward the right at Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 4 depicts the outlet box cover and hanger supporting plate as viewed from above;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a still further enlarged fragment of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings morein detail, numeral 11 designates a typical long narrow lighting fixture suspended in horizontal position from a pair of supporting chains 12. A cord or cable 13 connected at one end with the fluorescent tube in the fixture carries at its other end a plug 14 adapted to be engaged in a socket member 15 depending from the receptacle 16 to which the power wires lead through the conduit 17. The parts v. 2,733,888 P atented Feb. 7, 1956 thus far referred to may be of conventional or other preferred design.

In the ceiling from which the fixture ishung is mounted in the usual manner an outlet box 18 open at its bottom. The conventional flat plate or cover which normally serves as a closure for the box is supplanted in my invention with a plate or cover 19 of special design and construction, which may, however, be secured to the box by the screw bolts 10 in the customary manner.

The plate or cover 19 contemplated by my invention has a depressed central portion shaped to provide a depressed horizontal supporting flange 21 surrounding a central opening 22 through which the electrical connections pass. A plurality of radially spaced apertures 23 and a radially disposed slot 24 facilitate the attachment of the plate to the box by the screws 10.

- attachment of the chains 12 thereto.

A substantially U-shaped swivel member 20 consisting of the elongated head 25 and a pair of spaced apart legs 26 depending therefrom and all formed integrally by being stamped from sheet metal of suitable gauge carries the hanger chains 12. The head is of such length that its ends overlie and are supported upon the depressed flange 21 of the plate 19 and it is provided with a central opening 27 of suitable shape to accommodate and permit rotative swiveling movement of the head about the centrally disposed electrical connections 15. The extremities of the legs 26 are provided with slotted eyes 28 for the A housing 29 suspended below the ceiling surrounds the swivel member and imparts a finished appearance to the assembly. A switch (not shown) located within the housing 9 may be actuated by a switch operating arm 30 provided with the usual pull cord or chain.

The swivel member 20 suspended by its head 25 from the annular flange 21 of the plate 19 provides a swiveled mounting which permits angular rotative adjustment of the fixture either before or after assembly and without the necessity of loosening or unfastening any bolts, screws, clamps or similar anchoring devices.

In order, however, to retain the fixture in adjusted position and to prevent its displacement by reason of building vibrations or other disturbing infiuencees, the swivel member head 25 and its supporting flange 21 are provided with cooperative interengaging instrumentalities which preclude such accidental displacement. From Fig. 4 it will be apparent that for this purpose the upper face of the flange 21 is provided with radially extending spaced serrations or indentations 31 adapted to receive and be engaged by complementary serrations or depending ribs 32 projecting downwardly from the supported ends of the head 25.

When the hanger is installed in the desired adjusted position, the weight of the suspended fixture will maintain the cooperative interengagement between the ribs 32 and the indentations 31, thereby precluding rotative swiveling movement of the swivel member and the parts carried thereby. Obviously the anti-swiveling result may be attained by cooperating rugosities differing substan-' tially in form from the ribs and depressions shown on the drawings for illustrative purposes.

Should a change of position of the fixture become desirable after the installation, the necessary adjustment can be readily effected by simply lifting the swivel themher free from its supporting flange and rotating it in the plate opening through the requisite arc. One adjusted position at an angle of substantially 45 to the position shown in the other figures of the drawing is illustrated in Fig. 4 by the dotted line position of the head, the axis of which is indicated by the line 33.

The size, shape, proportions and arrangement of the parts shown and described are preferable only, and may be varied to a considerable extent without exceeding the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting an elongated lamp fixture from i anaoutlet :box .mounted. in a .ceiling or the like, -comprising a plate adapted to be fixed to saidlbox=totform a cover for the same,.saidiplate havingtadep'ressed central portion provided with an opening; the margin surrounding said opening being provided with spaced apart corru gations,iand a swivel member comprising a pair of spaced apart legs connected by a head so as to be 'insertabl'e through said opening in the cover, said head being larger than the opening whereby it rests on said margin of vthe opening so as to suspend said legs beneath saidplate, the head being'rota'table 'in'said opening and beingprov'ided with spaced corrugations adapted to cooperate with the corrugations in the plate whereby rotative movement "of the swivel member is normallyiprevented 'but is enabled to take place upon elevation of said member so as'to disengage said corrugations.

.2. A device for supporting vantelongated lamp fixture from an outlet box mounted in a ceiling or the like, comprisinga plate adapted to'be fixed to said box to form a cover for the same, said plate being provided with-a centrally located opening and shaped to provide a depressed marginal flange surrounding .said opening, the

upper face of said flange presenting a roughened or serrated "surface, a swivel member including a head'of greater length in one direction than the diameter of said opening so that the extensions of said head rest upon and are supported by said marginal flange, the lower face of said extensions being roughened or serrated to engage with the opposed roughened surface of the flange to prevent rotative movement of the head when the roughened surfaces are interengaged, said head being provided between said extensions with elongated legs provided near their extremities with means -for receiving ."and supporting the supporting .members of a light fixture, the distance between said "legs at their juncture "with said head being less than the diameter 'of said opening to enable the legs to be extended downwardly through said opening to form suspension means for a light fixture supported directly by said cover plate without the employment of any independent supportingmember for the head.

References Cited in thefile of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1397,052 .Newhall, Jr. .Sept. 5, v 19.16 2,285,883 Anderson June 9, 1942 2,523,180 Anderson Sept. 19,, 1950 2,545,124 Tornblom Mar. 13, 1951 

